chapter-10-the-game-of-life-and-how-to-play-it-florence-scovel-shinn

Why does Florence believe in affirmations? Because it's an instruction from the Bible, "Thou shalt also decree a thing and it shall be established unto thee."

Your words are a powerful creator of your reality. In fact, according to Florence, "All the good that is to be made manifest in man's life is already an accomplished fact in Divine Mind, and is released through man's recognition, or spoken word, so he must be careful to decree that only the Divine Idea be made manifest, for often, he decrees through his 'idle words', failure or misfortune."

And my previous question still remains, how do you know that you are decreeing in alignment with the Divine Idea? Why do we need to be playing these guessing games? What if you guess wrong? Will you still be punished even though they make you play the game blindfolded?

I guess you have to practice what she taught in the previous chapter. Repeat this affirmation until your purpose has been revealed to you, "Infinite Spirit, open the way for the Divine Design of my life to manifest. Let the genius within me now be released. Let me see clearly the perfect plan." Then keep your spiritual ears open for the divine guidance which is to follow, whether in the form of a hunch, a gut feeling or strong intuition. 

She seems to suggest, though not directly, that you are free to choose your own desires, be it a home, friend, position, or anything else. But when you do, make the demand for divine selection. For example, "Infinite Spirit, open the way for my right home, my right friend, my right position. I give thanks that it now manifests under grace in a perfect way."

She insists that you use precise words, or your request may manifest in a manner that is less than ideal, maybe through injury or some other misfortune. For example, "Infinite Spirit, I give thanks that (specific desire), which is mine by divine right, is now released, and now reaches me under grace, in a perfect way."

Your experience is only limited by your expectations. Increase what you subconsciously believe is possible, and you will increase what actually manifests in your physical reality.

Do not plead or supplicate, but give thanks repeatedly that you have received. Start with the end in mind. Declare that you have already received. Live as if you have already received. Speak as if you have already received, and it will be done as you wish. 

She says, "Prayer is command and demand, praise and thanksgiving. The student's work is in making himself believe that 'with God all things are possible'.

She says man should not compromise or be timid. She mentions a student of hers who would go as far, in her prayers, as saying, "Father, I will take nothing less than I've asked for, but more!"

Additionally, learn to wait patiently. This is where most of us mess things up. We give up to soon. We expect results instantly. If we don't get our requests in 3.5 seconds, we assume that we've failed, so we move on to the next thing. In internet marketing terms, we call this the shiny object syndrome - always jumping to the next big opportunity- never fully planting your flag and committing to one thing until we see success. 

This is a mistake. Learn to wait patiently, faithfully and with the cheerfulness of knowing that your desire has been fulfilled in the divine mind. It's only a matter of time before it shows up in your physical experience. 

Two attitudes of mind, says Florence, cause loss: depreciation (or lack of appreciation) and fear of loss. Where have we seen these before? Oh, I know. Think and Grow Rich! That's where we first encountered these diseases of attitude.

What’s the solution? Find a way to let go of your problem (cast your burdens), only then will you see magnificent results. The longer you try to force manifestation through your intellect, the longer you delay your blessings from the Infinite Intelligence. 

All our lives we've been taught to visualize. Florence says visualization doesn't quite cut it because it is a mental process governed by the reasoning or conscious mind. What she prescribes instead is visioning, which is a spiritual process, governed by intuition, or the superconscious mind. Train your mind to receive these flashes of inspiration. Listen to your intuition as it leads you or guides you through definite paths to your desires. 

Say, and believe, "I desire only that which God desires for me." 

Your reasoning mind is limited, and desires for you a measly mansion when God desires for you a massive palace. 

Florence insists, "There is power in the name Jesus Christ. It stands for Truth Made Manifest... Christ was both person and principle; and the Christ within each man is his Redeemer and Salvation. The Christ within is his own fourth dimensional self, the man made in God's image and likeness. This is the self which has never failed, never known sickness or sorrow, was never born and has never died. It is the 'resurrection and the life' of each man." 

Further down the page she says the bible quote, "'no man cometh to the father, save by the son', means that God, the Universal, working on the place of the particular, becomes the Christ in man; and the Holy Ghost means God-in-action. So daily, man is manifesting the Trinity of the father, Son and Holy Ghost."

"All power is given to man (through right thinking) to bring his heaven upon his earth and this is the goal of the Game of Life. The simple rules are fearless faith, non-resistance and love!"

She closes the book by quoting the Bible again and recapping some of the affirmations she's been recommending throughout the book. You will find these when you download the accompanying workbook. 

The Bible quote and final instruction which summarizes the premise of the book beautifully is this: 

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."